Sterilizer.



PATBNTED JAN. 1, `190'7.

H. P. BACON. STERILIZBR. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 4. 1905.

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HARRY PADDOOK BACON, OF MILACA, MINNESOTA.

STERILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application lefl December 4, 1905. Serial No. 290,284

To all whom 25 may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY IDADDocx BA- CON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milaca, in the county of Millelacs and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful` Improvements in Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a vessel adapted for sterilizing basins and similar articles by the direct application of heat and also for simultaneously sterilizing bandages, instruments, and the like by the application of steam in the same vessel.

It embodies a structure capable of being used alone as a sterilizer and with the addition thereto of a series of nested vessels or receptacles, each of which may be used to contain articles to be sterilized and all of which may be packed together in small compass for the purpose of storage or transportation.

In the use of such devices as have heretofore been constructed it is customary to place the dressings, bandages, instruments7 &c., in the same basin or receptacle and sterilize them `all together and then remove them as needed. The apparatus herein disclosed allows several different sets of bandages, Sac., to be sterilized in one of the inner receptacles, which can then be removed and another receptacle and set of bandages, &c., inserted and the operation repeated, the different re-- ceptacles being then set aside for future use of the articles therein, and the receptacles need not be opened until the time arrives for such use, so that a supplyof sterilized articles may be kept on hand in safe condition for future surgical work.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the apparatus with the receptacles nested together as for storage or transportation. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing how parts of the apparatus may be used for local or occasional sterilizing operations. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modification.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates an outer or lower vessel to contain the water to be boiled. This vessel has at the bottom a raised cylindrical portion 7, with inclined sides 8, forming an annular waterspace 9 around the same. This vessel also has a filling-spout 10.

11 indicates a cylindrical container, which is open at the bottom and is closed at the top by a cover 12, provided with a valve 13, which may be closed to retain the steamer opened to allow the escape thereof. The

lower end of this container iits within the l vessel 6 and rests upon the bottom thereof, thereby forming a closed casing adapted to contain the inner receptacles or cans. These receptacles are indicated at 14, three being shown, which are alike in all respects except that they vary in size, so that one will iit within the other as shown. They are provided with covers 15, and at the bottom with central raised portions 16, which i'it upon the top of the raised part 7 in the bottom of the vessel 6. The purpose of this construction is to retain the receptacles in place and support them centrally within the casing 11.

In use only one of the receptacles 14 is used. A set of bandages, &c., are placed therein, the cover 15 being first removed, and the receptacle is set in the vessel 6. The inclosing casing 11 and cover 12 are then placed thereover, water having been poured into the vessel 6 to supply the necessary steam. When the articles are sterilized, the receptacle is removed and its cover 15 placed thereon, after which it can be set away until the articles are needed for use. Another set of articles can then be immediately sterilized in the same way in another receptacle.

In addition to the parts above described a cover 17 is provided which will iit upon the vessel 6, as shown in Fig. 2. This forms a portable sterilizer, which may be carried to the place of operation, together with one of the receptacles 14 and its contents, and the said portable sterilizer, as shown in Fig. 2, can be used for local sterilization, the articles being placed in a basin 1S or the like.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3 the removable inclosing casing 11 is omitted, the Wall of the vessel 6 being extended to a sufficient height to receive the receptacles 14 and the cover 17. This is, however, capable of use in the saine manner and for the same purposes as the partsshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The invention combines in a compact form vessels permitting a number of different sterilizations and uses, which vessels when not in use can be packed or nested to occupy but little space.

I claim- 1. A sterilizer comprising a portable covered vessel the bottom of which has at the center an imperforate cylinder extending upwardly into the body of the vessel, said cylinder being open at the bottom and having a flat closed top adapted to form a support for IOO a'dish7 and forming an annular Water-space extending around between said cylinder and the side wall of the vessel,V and a spout extending through the wall of the vessel and into said space, with its lower end below the level of said top.

2. A sterili Zing apparatus comprising a covered vessel having in the bottom thereof a central raised portion forming an annular water-space, and a plurality of nesting receptacles within said vessel and having in the bottoms thereof raised portions adapted to lit upon the top of said central raised portion.

3. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a I 5 vessel for water7 a container which is covered HARRY PADDOCK BACON.

Witnesses:

I. W. DENIsoN, FRANK B. SEARLE. 

